Ceremony honors fallen Firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr.

Family, friends and fellow firefighters gathered at the site of the Dec. 8, 2011, three-decker fire that claimed the life of veteran Worcester Firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr.

By Gary V. Murray/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Firefighters gathered in the mist on Arlington Street last night to pay homage to a fallen comrade.

The brief and somber ceremony marked the first anniversary of the Dec. 8, 2011, fire that ravaged a three-decker at 49 Arlington St. and claimed the life of veteran Firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr.

Firefighter Davies and his close friend and partner on Rescue 1, Firefighter Brian Carroll, had gone back into the building to search for someone they had been told might still be trapped inside when the second floor collapsed beneath them.

Firefighter Carroll was rescued after being buried under a pile of debris in the basement and seriously injured. Firefighter Davies, 43, a 17-year veteran of the Fire Department, did not make it out alive.

About 100 firefighters and private citizens, including members of Firefighter Davies' family, paid tribute last night to the courage he displayed in making the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life while trying to save the life of another.

The ceremony included a short prayer by the Rev. Walter J. Riley, the Fire Department chaplain; the placing of a floral wreath on the chain-link fence that surrounds the vacant lot where the three-decker once stood; and the striking of the last alarm.

Firefighter Patrick Hayes, wearing a kilt, played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipe.

Firefighter Carroll, a 15-year veteran of the department, had not been back to 49 Arlington St. since the fire. He was among the group of firefighters who hung the wreath, with R1 in the middle, and then saluted their fallen brother.

“It's a very, very sad night,” he later said. “It brings up a lot of bad memories.

“I'm just remembering that I lost a friend. It's a hard thing,” he said.